Automatic oil conditioner



v Aug. 20, 1946. CRUZAN ETAL 2,406,203

I .v AUTOMATIC IL CONDITICNER Filed u 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l J a"-f-"finv fl 6mm as? mead/rd Aug. 20, 1946.

H. CRUZAN ETAL AUTOMATIC OIL CONDITIONER Filed Aug. 22, 19424Sheets-Sheec 3 I mm .H'arold Cruz an, A EdwardO. War-rick Aug; 20,-1946-. H. CRUZAN m1. 2,406,203

AUTOMATIC OIL CONDITIQNER Filed Aug. 22, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 mm" w 1Vl 3 7 I L 24 v 1 H 26 Cfuzwo, Edward 6.,7 2

Patented Aug. 20, 1946 AUTOMATIC OIL CONDITIONER Harold Cruzan andEdward C. Warrick, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to United AircraftsProducts,- Inc., Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August22, 1942, Serial No. 455,820

1 Ihis invention relates to an automatic oilconditioner and moreparticularly to an apparatus for regulating the temperature oflubricants and thereby controlling the flow thereof in pressure systemsfor lubricating the power plants of aircraft, armored vehicles or otherconveyances,'although the same is not restricted to such specific use.

Low atmospheric temperatures cause an increase in viscosity of thelubricant and consel in which the lubricating systemispositively'prouently a rapid build-up of pressure in the systectedfrom damage resulting from high pressures tem far beyond normalrequirements necessary therein, by substantially eliminating the suddento move the lubricant therethrough, which fre- 'p S ure'drop Whichusually occurs in similar dequently results in considerable damage toifnot vic s o p t day use total failure of the system, 7 I A still furtherimportant object of this inven- Under certain conditions, such as inmodern tion is to p vid n apparatus of the above charwarfare, it isvitally important that the power aster which is'of simple construction,hig plants of the various vehicles or conveyances ficient in use, andone that can'be readily and be ready for instantaneous use regardless ofthe quickly manufactured and installed at a reasoncondition of thelubricant, due to atmospheric able 00st. 7 temperature changes. Thisisparticularl -im- The foregoing andadditional objects and adpoitantwhen it becomes necessary to place an v t s i l be r ily p r nt hr houtthe aircraft into immediate operation from a so- COHrS 0f e fo l ndescription d drawings, called cold start in freezing or sub-freezingtemin which peratures, I Figure 1, is a fragmentary end elevation of theAnother situation where the condition of a lunt o partly in section, andwith a portion bricant is of vital importance is in the operation Of thefluid distributing h ad re oved, as viewed of dive bombing. In thisoperation the dive is from the right of Figure 2, often started atextremel high altit d s w th Figure 2,'is a vertical cross sectionalview of the motor cut out resulting in a cooling of the t e same, Withparts broken away, lubricant and consequently a rapid increase in i u 3,is a D p View Of the COIlditiOner, the viscosity thereof. When theoperator reaches 011 a duc d scale, with a portion of the fluid disapoint where it, i necessary to pull-out of the tributing head removed toshow the inlet and Outdive a sudden starting of the motor place the letwarm-up tubes, lubricant in th ystem under Sudden and e Figure l, is ahorizontal cross-sectional view tremely high pressure which also quiteoften reof the oil conditioner, also on a reduced scale, sults inconsiderable damage and failure of the taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2, Voil'line. Figure 5, is a bottom plan view of one portion In order toovercome the foregoing and other of the fluid distributing head, vobjections and disadvantages which are frequent- 40 Figure 6, is an endelevation of the fluid disly encountered at the present time, it is thepritributing head, as viewed from the right of Figmary or importantobject of this invention to ure 2, with parts of the oil conditionerbroken provide an apparatus of the above character away, which willautomatically and rapidly condition a Figure '7, is a verticalcross-sectional view of a lubricant, as to viscosity, regardless ofvarying portion of the fluid distributing head, taken on temperaturechanges before the same is forced line of Figure 5, showing fragmentaryparts through the system. of the oil conditioner and inlet warm-up tubesAnother important object of this invention is connected thereto, and pto provide an apparatus of the above character Figure 8, is a verticalcross-sectional view, simwhich will automatically prevent the flow ofluilar to Figure 7, taken on line 88 of Figure 5, bricant through thesystem until the same has showing a fragmentary section of one of theoutbeen brought to a predetermined condition of let warm-up tubes. I Vviscosity. 7 Referring in detail to the drawings, the auto- Anotherimportant object of this invention is 5 matic oil conditioner includes ahorizontally disto provide an apparatus of the above character 12Claims.

which will automatically prevent the application of excessive pressuretothe lubricating system.

Another important aim of this invention is to provide an apparatus -ofthe above character in which a lubricant is brought to a predeterminedcondition as to viscosity indirect exchange of heat.

A further important object of this invention is to provide an' apparatusof the above character posed cylindrical casing I, having its bottomthrough a directand portion formed with an aperture 2 locatedintermediate the ends thereof. Secured to the exably receive a threadeddrain plug t.

Integrally fastened to the inner surface bottom portion of the is aninwardly facing channeled supporting memher having a flat top andacurved bottom to conform to the curvature of the casing. v Mountedwithin the casing l, is a series tically spaced and axially extendingbaflle plates 6,1, 8 and' 9. The lowermost bafile plate 6 of the series,has its end portions seated upon andconnected to the supporting members5, and its lon'-- gitudinal side edges as to provide a lower header orcompartment it, while the baffles 1, 8 and}; have their longitudinal.side edges connectedto the casing so as to provide compartments orchambers l I, I2, l3 and [4. While only four horizontally extendingbafile plates are shown, it is to be understood that any desirablenumber may be used. The bafile plates and the top of the casing are eachprovided with a horizontally extending centrally disposed row of spacedopenings in vertical .alinement or registry with each other so as toreceive a bank or group'of inlet warm-up tubes l5 and a bank or group ofoutlet warm-up tubes 16. The upper ends of the warm-up tubes terminate aslight distance above the top of the casing for a purpose to behereinafter more fully described, while lower ends thereof extend aslight distance into the header Ill.

Mounted within the casing between the bafile plates and to either are aplurality of open ended tubes. for the passage of air or othercoolant,The flared ends l8 of the tubes' are substantially hexagonal shaped andare connected together by silversolder or the like to prevent theescapeof lubricant through the ends of the casingbetween the tubes whilepermitting the passage of the lubricant around the tubes inheat exchangerelationship therewith.

The baffle plates of their ends with a of spaced elongated openings areeach provided at one transversely extending ro-w l9, which are offset orstaggered with respect to the similar openings in the next adjacentplate or plates so as to provide a zig-zag or otherwise tortuous pathfor a lubricant flowing through the casing.

The inlet and outlet warm-up tubes I 5 and, it are each further.provided with a plurality of perforations 253, whereby a portion of thelubricant flowing through the inlet and outlet'warm-up tubes will beadmitted: at spaced points to the main body of the lubricant within thecasing.

The top of the casing with an elongated opening 2|, to either side ofand adjacent to the outlet warm-up tubes and are .ofi-set with respect.to the similarly shaped openings in the uppermost baflie plate (Figure8). A lubricant distributing head is securely mounted upon the top ofthe casing I, and includes a base section 22, an intermediate section23, and a top or cover section 24. I

The base section 22 of the distributing head is in the form of asubstantially rectangular relatively shallow pan-like body having abottom wall 25; side walls 26, and end walls 21. The bottom wall 25 isprovided with a longitudinally arranged row'of spaced openings intowhich the upper ends of the warm-up tubes extend, the latter being ofthe casing, adjacent each of 3', its ends, as bysilver solder, weldingorthe like.

i is also provided of verconnected to the base section 22 by a silversolder,

welding or the like. The bottom of the base section is further formedwith a pair of spaced openings 28 corresponding to and in verticalregistry with the openings 2! in the casing (Figure 8).

Formed integral with the bottom and side walls of the base section so asto separate the upper ends or the inlet and outlet tubes from each otheris a vertically extending partition 29 (Figure 3) of substantiallyV-iorm when viewed in plan. Disposed on either sid of the upper ends ofthe outlet warm-up tubes It is a vertical partition 3U, formedintegralwith the bottom, side and end walls of the base section so as toseparate connectedto the casing, so; v

the outlet warm-up tubes tained within the casing.

. .The. intermediate section 23 of the lubricant distributing head, whenviewed in bottom plan as depicted. in Figure 5 of the drawings, includesatop wall 3!, sidewalls 32-and end walls 33. The top wall 3l;is formedwith a par of spaced outlet ports 3 and 35, while one end wall 33 is Iformed with a ported neck 36 to provide an inlet passage forthelubricant flowing into the conditioner.

Formed integral with the intermediate section and overlying a portion ofthe warm-up tubes, is a substantially horizontally extending downwardlyfacing cup-like partition 31. The top wall of.

side of the warm-up tubes wall and the the partition 31 is arranged tolie'in a position intermediate the top wall 3i and the bottom edge ofthe intermediate section and has its side walls and bottom edgeof'substantially V formation so as to merge with and form a continuationof the partition 29 carried .by the base. section, to thereby provideseparate passages for the lubricant flowing into and out of theconditioner.

At its opposite end the intermediate section is provided with adivergent partitions 38 connected to the side and end walls 32 and 33respectively, which form vertical continuations of th partitions 30formed in the base section. Formed integral with the top wall 3! andconnecting the partitions 38' so as to underlie the outlet port 35 is ahorizontal partition 39 which forms together with the top divergentpartitions 33 a barrier which prevents the direct passage of lubricantfrom the outlet warm-up tubes 56 to and through .the outlet port 35.Otherwise stated, any lubricant flowing upwardly through the warm-uptubes. it will be directed by the divergent partitions 38 and thehorizontal partition 35! toward 7 and through the outlet port 34.

Detachably secured upon the intermediate section 23 is the top or coversection 24 formed to provide a bottom wall to, side walls 4!, end walls42 and top wall 43. The bottom wall MB is formed with a pair of openingsM and'45 to respectively register with the outlet ports 34 and 35 of theintermediate section 23, the port 34% being tapered to provide a valveseat. The top wall 43 is provided with an opening d6 in verticalregister with the opening 34, M and is, formed to detachably receive athreaded plug 41 having a downwardly opening sleeve 48 formed integraltherewith.

Slidably mounted within the sleeve 48 is the stem as of a valve 5c. Whenthe plug 4-! is secured within theopening t6, the valve. 50 isnormallyand yieldably held upon its seat by-means of a'coil spring 5| of astrength to exert a predetermined closing pressure upon the valve. In

from the elongated openings 28 which latter have direct communi- Ication withthe main body of the lubricant conpair ofdependent inwardlylieu of a spring biased relief valve, a thermostatic valve, not shown,may be used.

The top or cover section is further provided with a lubricant outlet 52formed in one of its end walls 42. Ordinarily, in the pressure systemsin use at the present time for lubricating aircraft or other enginesdeveloping high speeds, the oil is pumped from a reservoirto the variousparts of the engine to be lubricated and then returned to the reservoirby means of a second or scavenge pump.

In the event it is necessary to place the engine in operation when .thelubricant is highly viscous or frozen, such condition imposes anexcessive pressure upon the return line with the result that seriousdamage may be done to the entire system.

In order to overcome any damage which might result from the highlyviscous state of the lubricant under normal operating conditions, as setforth, it is proposed to place the automatic oil conditioner forming thesubject matter of this application in the oil return conduit, betweenthe scavenge pump and the reservoir, through the inlet and outlet ports36 and 52 respectively.

In operation, lubricant under pressure is forced into the fluiddistributing head through the inlet 35 as indicated by the arrow inFigure 2. If the lubricant is highly viscous or congealed, the pressurenecessary to force the same between the horizontally disposed coolanttubes I1, is greater than that required to force the lubricant throughthe warm-up tubes l and Is. In this event, the lubricant flowsdownwardly through the inlet warm-up tube l5 into the lower compartmentor header Iii; through the latter and thence upwardly through the outletWarm-up tubes [6, in the direction of the solid arrows, toward andagainst the valve 5i]. If the pressure is greater than that necessary toforce the lubricant in the core or main body of the conditioner betweenthe horizontally disposed tubes H, the valve 50 will be forced openallowing the lubricant to be returned to the reservoir through theoutlet port 52. In the case of a thermostatic valve, the combinedpressure and temperature of the lubricant will open the valve to permitthe passage thereof to the outlet port 52. At this point it is to beparticularly noted that the perforations or by-passes indicated by thedotted-arrows, tothe outlet port 52 leadingto the reservoir.

It will be seen from the foregoing, thata de- 7 cided advantage has beenobtained, in that the vention herewith shown and described is to be 20,which are preferably provided on each side i of each of the tubes,permits the warm or hot lubricant flowing through the tubes l5 and I6 tobe directly diffused through the lubricant in the main body of theconditioner regardless of whether the lubricant contained therein ishighly viscous or not. Thus in the event the lubricant in the main bodyof the conditioner is highlyviscous, the tubes l5 and I6 act as warm-uppasses well as passes having less restriction to flow. Flow of lubricantthrough these tubes warms up the lubricant in the main body of theconditioner by direct difiusion as well as by heat transfer through thetube walls, such warm-up of the lubricant continuing until the pressurenecessary to force the lubricant in the zig-zag or tortuous path,through the core is less than that necessary to overcome the resistanceof the valve 5! regardless of whether the same is spring biased or ofthe thermostatic type. At this time, instead of the lubricant flowingupwardly through the tubes It as hereinbefore described, same will flowdownwardly through the tubes I5, into and through the header Ii! andtheme, will follow a zi-g zag or tortuous path back and forth across thelength of the conditioner through the bailled sections andpassage's2l-28, 35-45, as

taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes inthe shape, size. and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, withoutdeparting from the spirit of our invention, or the scope of thesubjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim: 1. An apparatus forautomatically controlling the viscosity of a liquid which is subjectedto varying temperature changes, including a casing having an outlet, aplurality of open-ended tubes within the casing for the passage of acoolant therethrough and for the passage therearound of the liquid to becontrolled, a plurality of inlet and outlet warm up tubes in the casingand spaced apart so that the liquid can flow between them exteriorly,the ends of which Warm-up tubes are open, and the lower ends'beingspaced from the casing bottom tion with the casing, a liquiddistributing head having an inlet and an outlet carried by the casingand overlying the warm-up tubes and casing outlet and in communicationtherewith, said distributing head having a. passage for the liquidflowing from the outlet warm-up tubes to the outlet of said head and asecond passage for the liquid flowing from the oasing to the outlet ofsaid head, and valve means disposed Within the first-named liquidpassage of the distributin head and biased to closed position to controlthe passage of liquid therethrough.

2. An apparatus for automatically controlling the viscosity of a liquidwhich is subjected to varying temperature changes, including a casinghaving an outlet, a plurality of open-ended" tubes within the casing forthe passage of a coolant therethrough and for the passage therearound ofthe liquid to be controlled, a plurality of inlet and outlet warm-uptubes in the casing, and spaced apart so that the liquid can flowbetween them exteriorly, the ends of which warm-up tubes are open, andthe lower ends being spaced from r the casing bottom and havingcommunication with the casing, liquid distributing meanshaving an inletand an outlet carried by the casing and overlying the warm-up tubes andcasing outlet and in communication therewith, said distributing meanshaving a passage for the liquid flowing from the outlet warm-up tubes tothe outlet of said means and a second passage for the liquid flowingfrom the casing to the outlet of said means, and means disposed withinthe firstnained liquid passage of the distributing means and biased toclosed position to control the passage of liquid therethrough.

3. An apparatus for automatically controlling the viscosity of a liquidwhich is subjected to varying temperature changes, including a casinghaving an outlet, a plurality of open-ended tubes within the casing forthe passage of a coolant therethrough and for the passage therearound ofthe liquid to be controlled, a plurality of inlet and outlet warm-uptubes in the casingand and having communica-.

varying temperature changes, the combination including a easing, adistributor head mounted on one side of the casing, said head having aplurality of passages including an intake passage and an outlet passage,a plurality of tubes terminating in the intake passage and projectinginto the casing so as to terminate in spaced relation from the side ofthe casing opposite the head, and two spaced groups of open-ended tubeswithin the casing for the passage of a coolant therethrough and for thepassage therearound of the liquid to be controlled, said open-endedtubes being transversely disposed with respect to the first mentionedtubes which are spaced apart so that the liquid can flow between themexteriorly, one group of said open-ended tubes, being located on oneside of said first mentioned tubes and the other group being located onthe other side of said first mentioned tubes.

10. In an apparatus for automatically controlling the viscosity ofliquid which is subjected to varying temperature changes, thecombination including a casing, a distributor head mounted on one sideof the casing, said head having a plurality of passages including anintake passage and an outlet passage, a relief valve mounted in thehead, two groups of open-ended tubes for the passage of a coolantthrough the open-ended tubes and for the passage of a liquid to becontrolled around the open--ended tubes, said groups of tubes beingmounted in spaced relation from each other within the casing, and aplurality of heater tubes terminating in the intake passage and beingtransversely disposed with respect to the open-ended tubes, said heatertubes being positioned between the two groups of open-ended tubes andterminating in spaced relation from the side of the casing opposite thehead so as to form a passage for the liquid to be cooled from the intakeopening to the side of the casing opposite said head, and said heatertubes being spaced apart so that the liquid can flow between themexteriorly.

11. In an apparatus for automatically controlling the viscosity ofliquid which is subjected to varying temperature changes, thecombination including a cylindrical casing, a distributor head mountedon one side of the casing, said head having a plurality of passagesincluding an intake passage and an outlet passage, a relief valvemounted between two of the passages in the head, two groups ofopen-ended tubes for the passage of the coolant through the open end ofthe tubes and for the passage of a liquid to be controlled around theopen end of the tubes, said openended tubes being mounted in the casing,one group being arranged in spaced relation from the other, a pluralityof heater tubes terminating in the intake passage and being transverselydisposed with respect to the open-ended tubes, a plurality of heatertubes terminating in the outlet passage also transversely disposed withrespect to the open-ended tubes, said heater tubes being located betweenthe group of open-ended tubes and terminating in spaced relation fromthe side of the casing opposite the head so as to form passages for theliquid to be cooled from the intake opening to the outlet opening, andsaid heater tubes being spaced apart so that the liquid can flow betweenthem exteriorly.

12. An oil temperature regulator, comprising a casing, a plurality ofheat exchange tubes assembled in said casing for the passage of a fluidtherethrough as a coolant and for the passage therearound of oilto becooled, a header chamber at one side of said casing and communicatingwith the interior thereof, a plurality of'tubular conduits extendingfrom outside said easing into exteriorly,

said casing and through said assembly of tubes to said header chamber,said conduits being spaced apart so that the oil may flow between them afitting overlying the outer ends of said tubular conduits and formedwith oil inlet and outlet passages and a partition in said fittingeffecting a division between said tubular conduits in such wise thatsome thereof flow oil from said inlet passage to said header chamber andothers thereof flow oil from said header chamber to said outlet passage.

HAROLD CRUZAN. EDWARD C. WARRICK.

